School: Cluain an Ghabhláin, Cill Mhichíl

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1. St Michael's Well (continued)

   

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   on May the 8th as the day for Visiting the Shrine, as it has now become; but tradition dies hard and very few "locals" do a round on that day, although Mass is celebrated in the Pump-house and the shrine formally declared open for the season.
   The old people performed their rounds at Michaelmas barefooted, treading the stony ground in three different circles while they recited rosaries in honour of St Michael.
   Before the concrete walks were laid down the three circles were pretty clearly defined. Their positions and dimension, are accurately recorded in the Franciscan Annals already mentioned.
   The eyes, hands and feet were washed with the water. The performance of a round was and is believed to be a remedy for and safeguard against [it appears "the" has been overwritten] toothaches. Today the overflow from the Pump-house is trapped in a little concrete trough and here the Visitors may wash their feet with greater comfort than heretofore.
   Since the well was raised to the dignity of a shrine the method of performing the rounds has been changed. The new concrete walks, while they lie exactly over the old well-worn circles, afford easier passage to the more tender feet of today and are looked at askance by those who for almost half a century have been used to the more rigorous regulations. Visitors now are not absolutely obliged to perform the round

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Mr T. O' Gorman

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Teacher

   Address

   Coor, Co. Clare

   Informant

   Reverend Fr O' Reilly

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Priest

   Address

   Kilmihil, Co. Clare